It wasn’t any surprise that Zaven Collins was the first AAC player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. At six-foot and four inches tall, the 260 lb linebacker is a freak athlete with insane size, speed, motor, and technical ability. While there are some concerns as to whether or not he should be playing linebacker or defensive end in the NFL due to his size, the All-American, AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik and Lombardi Award winning Collins was always a no-brainer 1st round talent.
The Arizona Cardinals saw that, and took Collins as the second linebacker off the board, ahead of players like Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.